Cinematical

Food has been an important part of films ever since Charlie Chaplin made his dinner rolls into dancing shoes in The Gold Rush (and don't forget the Thanksgiving shoe dinner from that same flick). Since then we've had scenes ranging from the classic turkey scene in A Christmas Story ("Sons of bitches! Bumpuses!"), to the extremely erotic (and messy) kitchen scene with Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger in 9 1/2 Weeks.

We've also had films where the focus is on food exclusively, or the cooking. It's a bit strange watching a movie that features food as a central part of the plot, because you'll eventually find yourself wondering when the film will finally end so you can go chow. The day that a filmmaker shoots a movie that focuses on popcorn and sodas, watch out concession stands. It'll be on onslaught of ravenous people, marching like zombies towards the smell of fresh butter and the hiss of carbonation rushing through plastic tubes. They'll sell one hundred times more snacks than they will tickets -- a theater owner's delight.

These are my seven favorite movies that are either about food, or feature them in a way that is integral to the plot. In fact, if I can get through this entire post without my stomach growling, I'll be impressed. With Thanksgiving upon us, and everyone focused on eating, you might consider renting one of these movies to watch before your turkey dinner in order to get the juices flowing. By the time everything comes out of the oven, you should be well-prepared and ready to wolf down the goods.

Like Water For Chocolate

This film, which is based on the novel of the same name, is about the sensual power of food and the way it affects not only our lives, but our emotions as well. Tita learns about cooking and uses it as an almost supernatural power throughout the story. Just check out how her quail in rose petal sauce makes her sister Gertrudis so hot that she has to excuse herself from the table to go shower. If that's not enough, after the water fails to quench her fire, she runs naked from the house and is scooped up by a Mexican revolutionary and carried away. Now that's cooking.


Chocolat

In keeping with the chocolate theme we have Chocolat, another film based on a book where the food contains almost mystical and supernatural powers. Juliet Binoche opens a small chocolatérie in a small French village and uses her knowledge of chocolate to affect people in strange ways. She is part-witch, part-matchmaker who dabbles in the lives of the villagers when they come asking her for help. This one will make you salivate for good chocolate, preferably Swiss and handmade. Check out the recipe for ganache, which is used in the movie.


Eat Drink Man Woman

This excellent Chinese film by Ang Lee exquisitely details the problems families face in communicating with each other, but uses the preparation of large dishes almost as a replacement for good communication skills. This film uses some really drool-tastic food scenes that will have you rewinding, pausing, and then trying to describe what you're seeing on the phone to your local Chinese food delivery service. "I'll have what they're having!" Sign us up for the steamed chicken with black mushrooms and bok choy.


Diner

While Barry Levinson's Diner isn't directly about food, it is about a comfortable place that feels like a second home, a place to escape from your daily life, the diner. A group of young friends in their 20s hang spend most of their free time at a local diner in Baltimore, but eventually start to wonder if it's time to give it up and move along. This movie features an impressive cast including: Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, Steve Guttenberg, Ellen Barkin, Daniel Stern, Tim Daly, and Paul Reiser. Not a bad bunch to nosh with. Modell (Paul Reiser): "This is why you are so nervous all the time. You have, like, chunks of roast beef in your heart!"


Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Not to slight Johnny Depp's Wonka, but Gene Wilder's version had a much more human heart inside of him than Depp did. Of course this movie is all about candy, but that's a food group, right? There are too many amazing scenes in this movie, including the lickable wallpaper, the chocolate waterfall, and the fizzy lifting drinks. Tim Burton's effort proves that special effects can dazzle, but if you lose sight of the heart of the story, you'll end up putting your foot in your mouth. Of course, if your shoe is made out of Wonka bars, that might not be a bad thing.


Delicatessen

It was a toss-up between this film and Soylent Green for me, but Delicatessen won out because I'm such a big fan of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's. Delicatessen is one of his first films, and features a fantastical version of France where animals are in extremely short supply, and vegetables are used like currency. I won't spoil the story for you, but check out the pro-vegetable terrorist organization who work as freedom fighters. A great film with an extremely odd take on food.


Big Night

This is not only one of my top ten favorite movies, it's also one of the best films about food ever made. The plot circles around two brothers from Italy (Stanley Tucci, who co-directed with Campbell Scott, and Tony Shalhoub) who are struggling to keep their failing restaurant in America open. Most of the film takes place during the course of one day as they plan for a "big night" that can make or break them. The acting and directing are top notch, but it's the shots of the food and Primo and Segundo cooking that will make your mouth water, and when they take the lid off of the timpano? Fuhgeddaboutit. Plus a delightfully villainous turn for Ian Holm.


In honor of our Thanksgiving holiday, I'd also like to pass along this recipe for one of the most delectable pies I've ever made. I sort of have a really soft spot for pies (read: my stomach), and I love preparing them and watching people eat them. Hopefully you will too.

SOUR CREAM PUMPKIN PIE

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Total time: 4 to 6 hours (including chilling)
8 servings

9-inch Double Pie Crust
2 eggs
2 cups canned solid-pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 -1/2 cups sour cream
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Heat oven to 425F. Place cooling rack on countertop.

Bake at 425F for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove crust from oven. Cool on cooling rack.

Combine eggs, pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and cloves in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add sour cream. Beat at low speed of electric mixer until well blended.

Pour filling into partially baked crust. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Remove pie from oven. Cool on cooling rack until room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Combine cream and confectioners' sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until thickened. Increase mixer speed to high. Beat at high speed of electric mixer until stiff peaks form. To serve, place mounds of whipped cream on top of cold pie.

Happy Thanksgiving! Be sure and let us know some of your favorite movie food moments.